Conservative commentator Armstrong Williams, who is African-American, says he's torn between voting for Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama in the November presidential election.

"Many conservatives who happen to be black see it as a dilemma because they're wondering what they're going to tell their children and grandchildren 20 years from now when they had a chance in American history, which is rare and has never happened before, to pull the lever [for a black presidential candidate]," Williams tells host Michele Norris. "It creates quite a dilemma because there's not something wrong with Sen. John McCain; he's very impressive."

Williams notes that McCain is a war hero and has carved out a reputation as a maverick in the Senate who often bucks his own party.

What happened to the dream? Where man is judged by the content of his character, instead of the color of his skin? Where a man is judged by what he stands for, instead of the color of his skin. Voting for Obama just because he is black , is stupid. We will never evolve in this country , if the only reason a person votes for someone is because of the color of their skin. America just has to dig deeper, to the issues to what this Country stands for.

What a lot of blather. We have a secret ballot in this country - there’s no need ever to tell anyone how you voted. Many people lie about who they voted for anyway. Some want to appear to have voted for the “winner”, others lie because their candidate turned out to be an unpopular President.

"Many conservatives who happen to be black see it as a dilemma because they're wondering what they're going to tell their children and grandchildren 20 years from now when they had a chance in American history, which is rare and has never happened before, to pull the lever [for a black presidential candidate]," Williams tells host Michele Norris.

I should think he would be more embarrassed to tell his children and grandchildren how he sold out his principles and his country in his its time of need just because of skin color. What kind of message does THAT send to the next generation.

I hope Williams never makes another nickel writing anything. He needs to find a new career, like maybe going out on the street in fishnets and servicing men for $20 a pop. It would be more honest than what he's apparently been doing all these years.

I should think (actually, "I hope" is more accurate) that, before voting time comes around, a lot of these black conservatives -- after hearing Obama inanities, day after day -- will suddenly shake their heads and say "What was I thinking?"

In the interim, though, they don't do the cause (conservatism), which they claim to espouse, any good with these public statements about Obama's "appeal." All they do is make themselves look foolish, considering how everything that comes out of Obama's mouth is either (a) outright communistic or (b) utterly devoid of any meaningful substance.

14
posted on 07/17/2008 7:20:27 AM PDT
by NewJerseyJoe
(Rat mantra: "Facts are meaningless! You can use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!")

“If black conservatives are voting solely based on the historical significance of possibly putting a half black man in the White House, they were never conservative to begin with.”

So true. But let’s give black conservatives the benefit of the doubt. It takes a lot of courage to be a black and be conservative at the same time. In my family, it was even hard to be a Republican, and an extremem Republican at that, with all of the Dem history.

I can’t even imagine how tough it is to be a principled conservative and be black. But, let’s not take NPR’s slant here, wait for Williams and others to speak on their own. I think we’ll see Williams and others at McCain rallies.

There are a few conservatives who won’t even vote for McCain. They don’t seem to be on the hook.

I can understand the appeal that an Obama presidency may have to black conservatives. Though I disagree with Obama on virtually everything, his nomination certainly signifies that America has come a very long way since segregation.

It wasn’t too long ago at all that black children couldn’t attend white schools, couldn’t use shared water fountains, etc. Regardless of Obama’s policies, his election would be a noteworthy milestone in how far race relations have come in the last 50-60 years. I can see why such a milestone might be important to a black conservative.

It not only signifies that we’ve come a long way, but it truly proves the conservative premises of the American Dream and American Exceptionalism. That a member of a racial minority can rise from nothing to gain a nomination for the most powerful post in the country is a truly remarkable turn of events. Conservatives should acknowledge, not deny, such a milestone ... and take the opportunity to show the public that America isn’t the racist, sexist country that liberals would have you believe. Take the opportunity of Obama’s nomination to show American exceptionalism in action ... and thus prove the voracity of conservative thought.

H

19
posted on 07/17/2008 7:24:23 AM PDT
by SnakeDoctor
("You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -- Davy Crockett)

Son (or daughter) twenty years ago a marxist, abortionist, enemy-appeasing, big-government, energy-blind, far-left liberal ran for President at a time when we were threatened by Islamic Jihadists who wanted to kill us all, and when our economy was on the verge of serious harm due to dependence on foreign oil...and I voted against him. And I would do it again tomorrow.

Otherwise, these "conservatives" would be selling out their children and their country for hype, and prostituting and whoring themselves politically in the process.

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